Apparatus for forming and sizing ring shaped articles from metal blanks



J1me 3, 1948. E slRp 2,442,908

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND SIZING RING SHAPED ARTICLES FROM METAL BLANKS Filed D60. 11, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l y IE M/VfA/TOR June 8, 1%48. s p 2,442,908

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND SIZING RING SHAPED ARTICLES FROM METAL BLANKS Filed Dec. 11, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A "mmuum WV f V 2 I\ y w iili l ATTOR/VB June 8, 1948.

. E. SIRP 2,442,908 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND SIZING RING 1 SHAPED ARTICLES FROM METAL BLANKS Filed Dec. 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H68 4% 59 .4 5/ igg 2e 5/ Mvmrak f. 6MP

Patented June 8, 1948 APPARATUS FOR .FORMING .AND -SIZING 'RIN G SHAPED BLANKS ARTICLES IFRUM IM'ETAL Application'Decemirerll, 1943; Serial No: 513;856

Glainis. :1

This invention relates to arti'cle-forming apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for forming ring shaped articlesfrom metal blanks. An object of the invention isto "provide apracmeme and eflicient "apparatus for "forming -accurately I sized ring-shaped -=arti'c1es""from metal blanks.

In accordancewith the above object,=the present invention, in'one embodiment th1 6@f;'2,S"ap plied to forming accurateIy sized "ring shaped straps for vacuum tubes, comprises a carriage having a-die formation, the'carriage heing=-slidablel-on a stationary bedof a usual type punch press tocarry a blank strip of metal' pre'determinedly positioned and hel'd thereonwbypivotal retaining fingers relative to the d-ieformation, into forming -engagement with :a stationary mandrel-of circular cross section, which'movement of the carriage partially forms the 'strip therearound, the fingers being r withdrawn from: the strip =before' the completion of the: partial forming operation. "Thereafter, in'the advanceof a reciprocable press platen, actuators -'carried thereby effect operation of die members which are slidable radially of the mandrel intoengagement with the ends 'of the strip to complete the bending of the strip into :circular :orring-shaped form around the man'drel and afollow up'stripper plunger --surrounding the mandrel \advances the ring-shaped strap --throiigha stationary sizing die on the press bed, from which it drops along the mandrel onto an aligned stacking'ro'd. "Other objects and advantages of the invention will more f-ullyappear 'from the followingxletailed description taken in conjunction withi the I accompanying drawings, in which Fig.1 is a fragmentary plan -view'of that portion ofthe apparatus carried upon the press-bed with theblank strip carriage '--shoWn-in"its retracted position, and the actuators carried -by the reciprocable press platen forecivanci-ng the slidable "die members carried *on the press had shown in' section;

L Fig.""2 is a perspective -viewoof .a' blankstrip in broken outline and the completed ring-shaped strap formed therefrom in full lines;

.Eig, ..3 is. a .fraamentary.irreg-ularrv vertical sectionttaken on the 1ine. 3-3.of-Fig. .1,..the; iparts being shown .in the positions: assumed :therebysat the completion of the strap-forming operation;

Fig. A: is 'afragmentary view :similar to Fig.3 after -the stripper plunger has :advancednand moved'st'he strap through theisizing die;

J2 onfithe: line 5- 5:o-li ig.i1,.thetblankastripzcarriage being shownin zits retracted position;

liligiafi is an --1enlarge"d' fragmentary vizplan" vieivv showing. :the. strap 1 partially fiormedlnround :the mandrel;

alilig. 17..assa aview. similar toiFig. 56 showing: the strap completely iiormedzaroim'd the mandrel;

eEig. 18:.issan enlarged vertioalz'sectionitakenmn theiimeiiaefizzof Fig. :1: showingratblank stripzsnpported onzone of :theretafining fingers;

.FFig; 9. is nae-vertical .rsectiomtaken: son rthewline fle9ztofi-Figii8;

1.: Fii'gllurisza side elevational view nfitheinnenend ofitheccarriageswitlrthe blankistripgretaining fingersrin theimactuated positionssupportingra blank strinshown inhrokenoutline; and

its. lltsis sawiewssimilar :to Fig. :10" after [the fingerszhave beenzreleasedifromztheirs blank-strip .E'ig'. :5 is a fragmentary vertical sectionttaken;

supporting position-upon ithe strip engaging I vthe mandrel.

. iThe'. PIESmtfiEDZL-bOd'iLInGIIt' of theiinventionwas shown ::in rithe :drawi-ngs: may he advantageously .:for forming small ;:ring-shaped imetal bandsrora straps vt5 t-Fig. 2) ifor. use onvcertain types aof \vacuum :tubesgthe-straps being formed fromzthineflahmetal blanks :16 and the outside diameter: 'oflthe-strap is: approximately oneequarter inch and its height one-sixteenth inch.

.-:'As :shown .in :the :dnaw-ings, i-referringsparticnlarly -to Figs. 1 andfi, the trap-iormmg ann ratus-.,-embo'dying :the {features =of. :this rinventton isrpperativelyt connected: to a punch: press "which may-.z-be ofeany ius-ualityp :Since it is not lessential-toea2cempletenunderstanding of the-inventron, tithe punch i :press ..has :not i been xfully illustrated, exceptthosei-partsfldirectly concerned with this invention, whichrconsiste of the. following: it verticaL-reciprocable platen anda- .stationarybed l l. ,ancl-l 8, respective1y. Fixed totthe .upper race ofsthe, press; bed. l8 is-a;..bolster; plate 9,.t0 which is secureda,plat-e22.overhangingrtheleft.end.thereoMFig, i3) .orvits.torwardenmasviewed inFigl-l. A-huttingr therright ;end..of..the,plate r22. andssecured .touthe. .-bolster=,.plate val-9. is Y a ..die,.plate 423. Attached totthe upperface, ,of. the dieplate 23 ds anirregnlar shaped plate 24,. which .isshouldered ornstepped upwandimsasz indicated .at ,25 (Figs. 1 and 5 uponrits lower tacel to .provide. clearance betweenra head .portionrzfi. thereof and the die plate; f or .a? purpose. which rw'illmbemapparent presemtly. eslidable. uponithe plate 1.22 .betweem cooperatingfllateral iguidenstrirps.29hattached to! the plate/islet. oarriageen slide 30,--whichi is oentered relative 13032. diet-aperture =3 loof..a die-32 rcarried invtherdie-platei23,\-.and;the.platen H. A handle 33 attached to the forward end of the carriage 30 provides means whereby an operator may slide it to and from its advanced position (Figs. 3 and 1) respectively. In the advanced position of the carriage 30 (Fig. 3), to be described presently, a spring-pressed cone-ended pin 34 carried by a supporting block 35 attached to the platen H is entered in a cone-shaped depression 36 in the carriage 3|] during the lowering of the platen and before the strip-forming operation is completed to accurately locate and hold the carriage during the forming and sizing operations. A stop pin 31 fixed to the plate 22 limits the movement of the carriage in its retracted position.

Reciprocable in a shouldered aperture 38 formed in the head portion 25 of the plate 24 and centered with the die aperture 3| is a springretracted stripper plunger 39 in the form of a shouldered sleeve, its lower end being reduced and having a diameter closely fitting the diameter of the die aperture. Fixed to the upper face of the head portion 26 of the plate 24 is a retaining plate 40 for the plunger 39. Attached to and depending from the plate 40 is a long mandrel 4|, which is centered with the plunger 39 and die aperture 3| and is closely fitted to the inner diameter of the plunger, but clears the die aperture by the thickness of the wall of the formed strap l5. The lower end face of the mandrel 4| is formed with a cone-shaped depression 44, in which is entered an aligned cone-ended stacking rod 45, shown fragmentarily, onto which the formed bands l5 drop during the operation of the apparatus. Aligned apertures 45 are provided in the bolster plate H3 and press bed l8 for the mandrel 4| and stacking rod 45, respectively, and it will be understood that the rod is removably supported in a suitable manner. A plurality of pins 4'! are reciprocably carried in the retaining plate 40 and are engaged. at their upper ends by the lower face of the block 35, the lower headed ends of the pins resting on the upper face of the stripper plunger 39. Thus, when the platen moves downwardly, the plunger 39 also moves downwardly against the action of springs 48 and its lower reduced end passes through the die aperture 3| to the position shown in Fig. 4..

At its inner end face (Figs. 1, 8 and 9), the carriage 30 is angularly shaped and provided with a semi-circular die formation 5| having a diameter which is similar to that of the die aperture 3|. Extending from the extreme inner end face of the carriage 30, which is coincidental with the axis of the die formation 5|, at itsbottom edge and laterally from each side of the die formation are ledges 52 for supporting upon its longitudinal edge face the fiat metal blank strip 15 placed thereon by the operator when the carriage is in its retracted position, shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Pivoted, as indicated upon each side face of the carriage 30 in recesses 53 formed therein are spring-pressed lever-like blank-retaining fingers 54 having rounded lower forward edges'which normally ride upon the upper face of the plate 22 and die plate 23 in the reciprocation of the carriage. Extending laterally from and integral with the inner opposed faces of the fingers 54 at a point forward of the inner end of the carriage 30 and-of the blank I6 are vertical walls 55, which, in the normal position of the fingers, serve to retain the blank on the supporting ledge 52 of the carriage 30 during its transfer from the loading position (Figs; 1 and 8) and until the blank engages the mandrel 4|.

At this point in the movement of the carriage 33, the rounded lower forward edges of the fingers 54 move downward into depressions 58 formed in the die plate 23, as shown in Fig. 11, under the action of associated springs 59. This described movement of the fingers 54 withdraws the blank-retaining Walls 55 thereof from holding relation with the blank and the blank is now supported between the periphery of the mandrel 4| and the end face of the carriage 30 and resting upon the ledges 52 thereof. In the continued advance movement of the carriage 30 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the blank i6 is partially wrapped around the mandrel 4| to the formation particularly shown in Fig. 6, due to the entrance of the stationary mandrel into the die formation 5| of the carriage as the latter is advanced to the position shown.

To complete the forming of the ring-shaped strap I5, two reciprocable die members 60 having arc-shaped die formations 6| at their inner ends are subsequently moved along paths arranged angularly to the movement of the carriage 30 and aligned radially of the mandrel 4| into engagement with the extending ends of the blank Hi to shape and wrap them around the mandrel to the position shown in Fig. 7. The die members 38 are slidable in ways 62 formed in the lower face of the plate 24 and slide at their lower faces on the die plate 23. Depending from the lower face of the block 35, attached to the platen H, are two actuators 65 for the die members 60, the actuators being cam-shaped at their lower ends, as indicated at 56, and are entered in suitably shaped apertures 61 in the die members. Aligned apertures 68 are provided in the bolster plate l9, die plate 23 and plate 24 for the passage of the actuators 65 during their reciprocation with the platen H.

The operation of the heretofore-described apparatus is as follows: In Fig. 1, the apparatus is shown in its normal position or just after the completion of a strap-forming operation, the carriage 30 having been retracted by the operator after the platen (not shown in Fig. 1) has moved upwardly and withdrawn the holding and positioning pin 34 from the depression 36 in the carriage. It will also be understoodthat in the upward movement of the platen H, the camactuators 65 movable therewith have retracted the die members 68 from their advanced forming operation, shown in Figs. 3 and '7, to the positions shown on Figs. 1 and 6 and that the stripper plunger 39 is moved to its retracted position (Fig. 3). Further, in the retraction of the carriage 30, the blank strip-retaining fingers 54 on the carriage are moved from their released positions shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 11 to their blank strip-retaining positions shown in Figs. 1, 5, 8 and 10. The operator now places a blank strip I6 shown in broken outline in Fig. 1, on the carriage ledges 52, where it will be held by the retaining walls 55 of the fingers 54 (Fig. 8) and slides it forward to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6. In timed relation with the forward vertical side face of the blank strip being moved into engagement with the periphery of the mandrel 4|, the rounded forward lower edges of the fingers 54 drop'into the depressions 58 in the die plate 23, thus permitting the retaining walls 55 to (move out of the path of the outer ends of blank strip |6, which is then partially wrapped around the mandrel 4| to the position shown in Fig. 6 bythe die formation 5| on the carriage 3|]. Following the partial forming of the strap E5, ':the =press platen H begins its 1 down stroke, whieh'may be' i'nitiatedby a rnanual-aetuation of the press clutch [not shown) I or the press clutch may ne-automatically actuated by means "(not s'hownrs'et' inmotien by the advance movement of the carriage sil.

-As the platen l'l descends, thespring-pressed holding *and positioning pin -34 carried. thereby first -'eriters the cooperatingdepression 35- in the carriage flil, thereby --ac'curately positioning and firmly holding the'partia'lly formed-strap H5 between thecarriage die formation 5! and the mandrel 41. 'In the continued descent of the platen IL-the 'cainactuators iili moving therewith-slide the die members 6% into engagement with th'e-iree-ou-ter ends of the partially formed blankstripflfiand complete the-forming of the strap 5 by'wrapping the ends of the strip arou'n'd the mandrel H (Figs. 3 an'd 7). In timed relation tothe actuation ofthe die members 60, the spring retracted stripper -p1un'ger39 is moved downwardly when the lower faceof the support on'the moving platen ll engages the pins 4?, which are engaged by the plunger, as shown in Fig. 3. As the plunger 3Smovesdownwardly, the reduced lower annular edge face thereof engages the annular upper edge face of the strap 15 and moves it downwardly through the sizing die aperture 3! (Fig. 4), which serves to further wrapxthe band l5 around the rrrandrel and give it its "final 15128 when used. As each strap 15 is formed,'it moves down the-mandrel 4| and drops onto the stacker rod 45, This completes a cycle of operations including thepositioning of astrip blank lbton the carriage while retracte'dpadvancin'g'the carriagaand forming the blank into asized circular strap l5 andtheoperation may be continued as described above.

'What is claimed is:

lfIn-an-apparatus-for forming articles from blanks, a mandrel aboutwhich a blank is formed, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, means movably mounted on one of said dies for supporting the-blank in its movement to the mandrel, means for withdrawing said supporting means for said blank when the blank engages the mandrel, and means for actuating said dies to form an article.

2. In an apparatus for forming articles from blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is formed, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, one of said dies having movable blank supporting seats thereon at each side of its die formation for supporting the blank in its movement to the mandrel, said seats being movable upon the blank being pressed against said mandrel for withdrawing them from the blank, means for moving said one die into operative relation with said mandrel to press the blank thereagainst and partially wrap the blank therearound, and means for actuating said other dies to form an article.

3. In an apparatus for forming articles from blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is formed, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, one of said dies being movable along a line arranged intermediate said other dies, said one die cooperating with said mandrel to partially form the blank and arrange portions thereof in the path of said other dies, means for supporting the blank in its movement to the mandrel, means for actuating said dies to form an article, asizing die-'surrounding,I inspa'ced rlw tion, saicrmanuru and means fer-forcin 'the article through said 's'izingdiie whi-le said form-in? dies are in -their forward actuated positions.

rL In an "apparatus for forming articles 1 frem blanks, a-mandrelabout which a blank is formed aplurality of d iesmovable in a-"common plane radially of 1 and -to I and from --'said mandrel -for forming-the blank the'rearound, one of said "dies being movable a-l-ong aline arranged intermediate said other dies, said one diecooperating with said mandrel to partially form-the blank an-darrange portions thereof' in thep'ath-of said" other dies, means movably mounted relatively to and carried on said --'one i die fo'r supp'orting and longitudinally'cehtering the blank thereon in its movement/ to the mandrel; means iorwithdra'wing said supporting means for said blank' whe'n the blank engages "the mandrel, and means for actuatin saiddies to form an article.

'5 Inan apparatus 'forio'rming ring-shaped articlesfro-m strip blank-s, a mandrel-about which a blankjis wrapp edto form-an article, aplurality of dies -movable radiallyof and to an'd fromsaid mandrel and adapted to completely embrace the mandrel 1 for=forming the blank therearound; cooperating means movably mounted 4311-0118 "of said dies "for supportingand predeterminedly positlon ing theblank-on a longitudin'aled'ge face irritsmovement to the-mandrel,- means for withdrawing said-supporting means 'for said blank when the A blank engages the mandrel, means for moving said one die-into operative relation with said mandrel -'to partially wrap the'blank around the mandrel, and means for actuatingsaid other dies to eompl'ete'the'wr-apping of the blank around thema'ndrel to form a ring-shaped article.

"63111 'an apparatus for forming articles from blanks, a mandrel about which "a blank is formed, a plurality or dies movable 'radially' of and to" and from Said-mandrel fo'r'forming the blank therearound-means arranged for movementlon-gitudinally of said mandrel for moving the formed article'along said-mandrel out of the path-of-said dies, means movably mounted on one of-said dies for supporting the blank in its movement to the mandrel, means for withdrawing said supporting means for said blank when the blank engages the mandrel, means for actuating said dies to form an article and for actuating said formed article moving means, and a sizing die surrounding, in spaced relation, said mandrel, said formed article moving means forcing the article through said sizing die while said forming dies are in their forward actuated positions.

'7. In an apparatus for forming articles from blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is formed, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, a sizing die surrounding said mandrel, a stripper sleeve surrounding and movable longitudinally of said mandrel and into said sizing die for moving the formed article along said mandrel out of the path of said forming dies and through said sizing die, means movably mounted on one of said forming dies for supporting the blank in its movement to the mandrel, means for withdrawing said supporting means for said blank when the blank engages the mandrel, and means for actuating said forming dies to form an article and for actuating said stripper sleeve.

8. In an apparatus for forming articles from strip blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is wrapped to form an article, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming th blank therearound, means arranged for movement longitudinally of said mandrel for moving the formed article along said mandrel out of the path of said dies, means movably mounted on one of said dies for supporting the blank in its movement to the mandrel, means for withdrawing said supporting means for said blank when the blank engages the mandrel, means for actuating said one die to partially wrap the blank around the mandrel, and means movable at right angles to the movement of said dies and operatively connected to the other of said dies for actuating the same to complete the forming of an article and said formed article moving means in timed relation.

9. In an apparatus for forming ring-shaped articles from strip blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is wrapped to form an article, a plurality of dies movable radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, means for supporting said dies in their movement, means on one of said dies for supporting the blank on a longitudinal edge face in its movement to the mandrel, said means including pivotal elements at each side of the die formation normally resting on said die supporting means and arranged to predeterminedly position the blank relative to the die formation and having portions effective to retain the blank on its 1ongitudinal edge face in its movement to the mandrel, said die supporting means having portions adapted to permit said pivotal elements to move and thus their blank-retaining portions out of the path of the blank at substantially the instant the blank engages said mandrel, means for moving said one die into operative relation with said mandrel to partially wrap the blank around the mandrel, and means for actuating said other dies to complete the wrapping of the blank around the mandrel to form a ring-shaped article.

10. In an apparatus for forming articles from strip blanks, a mandrel about which a blank is wrapped to form an article, a plurality of dies movable in a common plan radially of and to and from said mandrel for forming the blank therearound, one of said dies being movable along a line arranged intermediate said other dies, means for supporting said dies in their movements, said one die having seats at each side of its die formation for supporting the blank on a longitudinal edge face in its movement to the mandrel, spring-pressed pivotal elements on said one die at each side normally urged against said die-supporting means and arranged to longitudinally center the blank with the die formation and having portions effective to retain the blank on its longitudinal edge face in its movement to the mandrel, said die-supporting means having depressions for permitting said pivotal elements to move and thus their blank-retaining portions out of the path of the blank at substantially the instant the blank engages said mandrel, means for moving said one die into operative relation with said mandrel to partially wrap the blank around the mandrel, and means for actuatin said other dies to complete the wrapping of the blank around the mandrel to form an article,

EMIL SIRP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 28,565 Disston June 5, 1860 175,120 Litchfield May 13, 1930 268,982 Bartlett Dec. 12, 1882 290,982 Emmick Dec. 25, 1883 1,078,707 Tevander Nov, 18, 1913 1,360,242 Muller Nov. 23, 1920 1,634,661 Gronefeld July 5, 1927 1,758,237 Paine May 13, 1930 1,785,116 Fassinger Dec. 16, 1930 2,099,624 Robarge Nov, 16, 1937 2,169,669 Wachs Aug. 15, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 695,619 Germany Aug. 29, 1940 

